Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Israel (Ratification: 1959)

Article 1(1)(a) of the Convention. Discrimination based on sex. Sexual harassment. In its previous comments, the Committee asked the Government to provide information on the measures adopted to prevent and eliminate sexual harassment in employment and occupation including awareness-raising activities and other action by the Authority for Advancing the Status of Women. It also asked the Government to continue to provide information on the complaints regarding sexual harassment dealt with by the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC). The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that the EEOC received three cases concerning sexual harassment in 2015. The Committee also notes that the CEDAW expressed concern about the high rate of sexual harassment experienced by women and girls in all settings (CEDAW/C/ISR/CO/6, 17 November 2017, paragraph 28). The Committee requests that the Government take proactive steps, in consultation with the social partners, to prevent and address sexual harassment in employment and occupation and to provide information thereon, including information on any action carried out by the Authority for Advancing the Status of Women. The Committee also requests the Government to continue to supply information on the complaints concerning sexual harassment filed with the EEOC and their outcome.

Article 2. Promotion of gender equality in employment and occupation. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the statistical information provided by the Government concerning the employment rate of women, including Arab women, and asked it to provide updated information on: (i) the range of measures adopted to improve participation of women in public positions and senior grades and the results achieved; (ii) the activities carried out by the Authority for Advancing the Status of Women with respect to training, education and employment of women, including of women from particularly disadvantaged groups; and (iii) statistics disaggregated by sex and population group. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the 2014 employment rates of Jewish women (79.3 per cent) and Arab Israeli women (33.2 per cent). It also notes that, according to data from the Labour Force Survey of 2018, the average employment rate of women aged between 25 and 64 years in the second quarter of 2018 was 74.2 per cent, while the employment rate of Arab Israeli women in the same age group was 40.1 per cent and that of orthodox Jewish women and non-orthodox Jewish women was, respectively, 75.2 and 83.1 per cent. The Committee further notes the information concerning measures targeting Arab Israeli women adopted under the five-year plan for economic development, of the Arab population for the period 2016–20. The Committee, however, notes that the Government does not provide information in relation to the other points raised in its previous comments. The Committee again requests that the Government provide information on the measures adopted to improve the participation of women in public positions and senior grades, as well as on the activities carried out by the Authority for Advancing the Status of Women with respect to training, education and employment of women, including women from particularly disadvantaged groups, and the results achieved. The Committee also requests the Government to continue to provide information on the employment situation of women, disaggregated by population group.

Civil service. The Committee recalls that in its previous comments it noted that the target set by the Government for 2012, that at least 10 per cent of all civil servants would come from the Arab sector, was not achieved. It asked the Government to continue to take concrete steps directed at reaching the target of 10 per cent of civil servants from Arab, Druze and Circassian population groups in the near future, and to provide information on any developments in this respect, as well as on the activities carried out by the Authority for the Economic Development of the Arab, Druze and Circassian sectors (AEDA). The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning the integration of the Arab population in the public sector. It notes, in particular, the Government’s acknowledgment that greater efforts are required to enhance both the number of employees from the Arab population and the level of their positions. It also notes the Government’s indication that an inter-ministerial team has been established to examine the problem of ensuring adequate representation and advancement of the Arab, Druze and Circassian population in the civil service, and that it is currently in the process of elaborating a set of recommendations. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the recommendations formulated by the inter-ministerial team and the actions taken to promote greater participation of the Arab, Druze and Circassian population in the civil service and their access to positions at all levels. The Government is also asked to provide information on any developments concerning the implementation of the employment target for the Arab population in the civil service and on any activities carried out by the Authority for the Economic Development of the Arab, Druze and Circassian sectors to promote the principle of the Convention in the civil service. The Committee also asks the Government to continue to provide statistical information disaggregated by sex.

Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC). In its previous comments, the Committee asked the Government to continue to provide information on the specific activities carried out by the EEOC and their impact in addressing discrimination in employment and occupation, as well as on any measures adopted or envisaged to address discrimination based on pregnancy and to promote reconciliation between work and family responsibilities. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that 8 per cent of the requests received by the EEOC in 2015 concerned discrimination based on national extraction. The Committee also notes the information contained in the report of the eight years of work of the EEOC (2008–15) concerning, in particular, the cases of discrimination dealt with by the EEOC and the awareness-raising activities undertaken. It notes that 31 per cent of all cases received in the period covered by the report concerned discrimination based on pregnancy. The report also indicates that, according to a survey conducted by the EEOC, 46 per cent of women – against 21 per cent of men – reported difficulties in finding a full-time job, and 39 per cent of all employees interviewed reported that they felt their Arab identity affected their chance of being recruited. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the work of the EEOC and, in particular, its impact in addressing discrimination in practice, including discrimination based on pregnancy, and promoting equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation, including information on any measures adopted or envisaged to promote reconciliation between work and family responsibilities.